Ida Baker High School to hold ‘Tackling The Cure’ fund-raiser Friday

October 24, 2012

Ida S. Baker High School's football team will host the Second Annual Breast Cancer Awareness "Tackling the Cure" fund-raiser this Friday, Oct. 26.

"Last year we raised over $1,000," said Ida Baker Reading Coach Kim Conn, in support of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. "The Jimmy V Foundation was chosen as our recipient this year because of the sports background."

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary N.C. State basketball coach and ESPN commentator.

To date, The V Foundation has raised more than $120 million, used to fund more than 400 cancer research grants nationwide.

"The idea for the fund-raiser was sparked by our football team last year and then it blossomed into a whole school effort," she said. Her husband, Brian Conn, is the football coach there. "Once we looked at the foundation, and saw that 100 percent of cash donations and proceeds of events directly went to cancer research we were sold."

Several events will be part of the action Friday, including the team wearing pink uniforms that night to show their support for the "Tackling the Cure" event.

Fact Box

If You Go:

Who: Ida S. Baker High

School football team

What: Second Annual

"Tackling The Cure"

fund-raiser

When: Friday, Oct. 26.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m.;

7:30 p.m., kickoff

Where: Ida S. Baker

High School,

3500 Aqualinda Blvd.

Information: 458-6690

A big part of the effort will be the sale of specially designed pink T-shirts that are being sold prior to the event for those attending the game, and at the game. The shirts are $8 and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Jimmy V Foundation.

The shirts are a popular item.

"The T-shirts we sold out last year," Conn said. "I even sold my own shirt off my back because someone wanted it. We are hoping to sell out of T-shirts again. They are $8. They can buy them at the school prior or at the football game Friday."

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

"We're hoping for everyone in the stands to wear pink."

Anyone interested in purchasing a pink "Tackling the Cure" Bulldog T-shirt can visit Ida S. Baker High School, which is located at 3500 Aqualinda Blvd.

For sponsorship, donation or other information, call Conn at 458-6690.